Cooling device for drinking fountain



Feb. 4, 1958 A. R. oLsoN I' COOLING DEVICE FOR DRINKING FOUNTAIN 2 Shets-Sheet 1 -Filed. June 21, 19.54

INVENTOR. ANDREW R. OLSON M 'CJ Q12@ Afro/avere Feb. 4, 1958 A. R. OLSON COOLING DEVICE FOR DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed June 2l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N V EN TOR. ANDREW E. OLSON BY Y Y United ,States Patent O COOLING DEVICE FOR DRINKING FOUNTAIN Andrew R. Olson, Madison, N. I., assignor to Suburban Propane Gas Corporation, Whippany, N. J., a corpon ration of New Jersey Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,239

3 Claims. (Cl. 62-7) This invention relates to a cooling device for drinking fountains. l

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling device for drinking fountains which is particularly designed for such drinking fountains which are located in isolated places and which are used at infrequent intervals, for example the type commonly found on golf courses, parks, and athletic fields or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cooling device for drinking fountains or the like wherein the coolant is expended only during actual consumption of drinking water, effecting an obvious economy and eliminating standby loss.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a cooling device for drinking fountains, bearing the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has .a minimum number of parts, is easy to use, and efficient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, represents an outer casing having a bottom wall 11 and open at the upper vend thereof, the open upper end of the casing 10 being integrally formed with an outwardly eX- tending ange 12, substantially as illustrated. An inner casing 13 having a bottom wall 14 is integrally formed at its open upper end with an outwardly extending flange 15, the flange 15 overlying and being supported by the ange 12 in the manner shown with the inner casing 13 and the bottom wall 14 thereof freely spaced from the outer casing 10 and providing a compartment filled with insulating material 16. f

An inner cover 17 adapted to lit within the open upper end of the inner casing 13 is integrally formed with a vertical side wall 18, the upper edgeof theside wall 18 being integrally formed with an; outwardly extending ange 19 overlying and supported upon the flange 15. An outer cover 20 overlies and rests on the ange 19, the anges 12, 15, 19 and cover 20 being secured together in the manner shown by means of the bolts 21 and nuts 22. It will be noted that the side wall 18 provides a compartment intermediate the outer ycover 20 and the inner cover 17, this compartment being filled with insulation 23. i t" A helical water coil 24 is positioned within the inner casing 13, the inlet 25 of the coil passing through vertically aligned openings provided in the bottom walls 11 and 14, while the outlet 26 of the coil passes upwardly through vertically aligned openings provided in the inner cover 17 and outer cover 20.

t 2,821,844 jiPatented F eb. 1958 ICC A water valve 27 actuated by a rod 28 is provided at the upper end of the outlet 26, the valve 27 having an outlet 29 which communicates with and supports a conventional drinking fountain fixture 30 by means of an elbow 31.

An opstanding bracket 32 is suitably mounted adjacent the valve 27 and pivotally mounts at the upper end thereof a horizontal arm 33 by means of a pin 34. A bifurcated portion 35 is flxedly mounted on the upper end of the rod 28 and is pivotally connected to the arm 33 by means of a pin 36. A tubular portion or handle 37 is mounted along the outer upper edge of arm 33 to facilitate the manual movement of the latter when it is desired to drink from the mountain 30. Thus, upon depression of the handle 37, the valve 27 will be opened by the consequent downward movement of rod 28, supplying the fountain 30 with drinking water. The inlet 25 of the coil 24 is connected to a suitable source of water under pressure, not shown.

As a means of cooling the water passing through coil 24, a second coil 38 of helical shape is disposed in the manner shown within the coil 24, the coil 38 having an inlet 39 passing through vertically aligned openings provided in the bottom walls 14 and 11 and an outlet 40 passing through vertically aligned openings provided in the inner cover 17 and outer cover 20.

A thermostatically controlled valve 41 controlled by a temperature bulb 42 is disposed within the inner casing 13 and is mounted on the lower end of the inlet 39 and controls the ow of coolant or refrigerant through the coil 24 from a line 43, the line 43 being suitably connected to a suitable source of refrigerant, not shown. The refrigerant herein employed will be ammonia although it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that any other suitable liqueiiable cooling gas may be employed.

The outlet 40 of the coil 38 is connected to a line 44 which conducts the gaseous ammonia into a container or control unit, not shown, mounted within the ground below the device.

A steel or aluminum push valve (spring needle type) 45 is provided in the line 43 directly below the outer end of the arm 33, the valve 45 being actuatedy by a rod 46.

A bracket 47 is suitably secured to the bottom wall 11, and is provided with an opening through which moves a vertical rod 48 iixedly carrying a bifurcated member 49 at its upper end, the member 49 being pivotally connected tothe outer end of arm 33 by means of a pin 50. The lower end of the rod 4S is fLxedly connected to the actuating rod 46 by means of an adaptor 51. Thus, upon depression of the handle 3'7, the water valve 27 will be opened simultaneously with the valve 45 through the linkage construction described, the rod 48 passing upwardly through vertically aligned openings provided in the flanges 12, 15, 19 and cover 2i).

The coils 24 and 38 within the inner casing 13 are immersed in a liquid medium, for example an ethylene glycol base containing alcohol such as currently identified by the trademark Prestone, numeral 52 or equivalent uid along with the temperature bulb 42. It will be noted that the thermostatically controlled valve 41 operates independently of the mechanically operated valves 45 and 27. The fluid 52- will, of course, have a relatively low freezing point. H Thus, upon depression of the handle 37, the water valve 27 will be opened to supply drinking water to the fountain Btl and simultaneously, the Valve 45 will be opened to supply refrigerant to the thermostatically controlled valve 41. Thus, refrigerant will pass through coil 3S to cool or absorb heat from the water passing through coil 24, the

refrigerant leaving through line 44. The temperature bulb 42 will automatically close the valve 41 when the temperature of the Prestone S2 goes below a certain minimum of predetermined value thus preventing the w-ater within coil 24 from freezing.

The insulation 16 and 23 will prevent the absorption of heat from the atmosphere through the casings 13 and as well as covers 17 and 20. It will be noted that refrigerant will be consumed only when drinking water is consumed, effecting an obvious economy of refrigerant. It will also be noted that the valves and 2! supplying the refrigerant and drinking water, respectively, will operate simultaneously while the thermostatically controlled valve supplying refrigerant to the coil 38 will operate independently of the valves 45 and 27.

Referring now particularly to Fig. '2, there is shown a modified form of the present invention including a casing having a bottom wall 56 and a top closure 57, the closure 57 having a central opening 58.

A central drain pipe 59 is mounted within the casing 55, the bottom wall 56 having an opening aligned with closure opening 58 and through which passes the drain pipe 59 which continues downwardly as at 60 to a water disposal area, not shown.

A helical coil 6l through which the drinking water passes is positioned within casing 55 around the drain pipe 59, the inlet 62 of coil 61 passing downwardly through a suitable opening provided in the bottom wall 56, the inlet 62 being suitably secured to the wall S6 by means of welding 63 or the like. The outlet 64 of coil 61 passes upwardly through opening 53 in closure 57 where it is connected to the nozzle portion 65 of a drinking fountain indicated generally at 66, the fountain 66 including the usual bowl 67 having an opening 68 through which passes the outlet 64. The bowl 67 is supported in spaced relation to the closure 57 by means of the spaced plates 68', 69 and 70, these plates being provided with vertically aligned openings through which the outlet 65 passes. The nozzle 65 around the lower periphery thereof is provided with openings 71, permitting the drinking water ,collecting in bowl 67 to pass downwardly through opening 58 and into the drain pipe 59.

The inlet 62 is connected to a suitable source of drinking water, not shown, and contains a push button type water valve 72 (needle type) whereby to control the liow of drinking water to the fountain 66.

As a means of cooling the drinking water passing through the coil 61, an inlet pipe 73 extends upwardly through the bottom wall S6 and is secured suitably thereto, for example by means of welding 74. The lower end of the inlet 73 is suitably connected to a source of liquelied refrigerant gas, not shown. While ammonia will be employed as the refrigerant, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that any other readily liqueable gas may be used. An expansion needle valve 75 is provided in the inlet pipe 73 and is actuated by a push button, not shown, similar to that provided in the water valve 72, the valves 72 and 75 being actuated simultaneously by means of a bar 76 having a handle 77. The handle 77 is pivotally mounted by means of the laterally aligned lbrackets 7S mounted on the drain pipe 59 and transverse pin 79.

A line 80 communicates with the interior of casing 55 at the top thereof, and permits the vaporized ammonia gas therewithin to escape to the atmosphere at a relatively high level above the device.

Thus, upon depression of the handle 77, the valves 72 and 75 will operate simultaneously to deliver drinking water to the fountain 66 while at the same time vaporizing refrigerant within the casing 55. This vaporization draws heatfroin the ldrinking water through coil 61 whereby to cool the same. The vaporized ammonia is then permitted to escape harmlessly into the atmosphere through the line 80. Examples of other refrigerants which may be utilized are propane and Freon. Instead of escaping into the atmosphere, the ammonia may also pass into a vat of water to form ammonium hydroxide which may be employed inthe manufacture of fertilizer. The casing 55 may also be provided with insulation in a manner similar to the first form of the invention. After the valve 77 has been returned to its normal position, the supply of water and refrigerant will simultaneously stop, the temperature of the cooling chamber then rising to normal again. Here again it will be noted that refrigerant is consumed only during that period when the drinking water is consumed, eliminating standby loss.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it. shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as detned by the appended claims.

What I clairn as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. Drinking fountaincooler means for connection to a water main comprising, water supply conduit means having an end operably affixed thereto and supporting the same, a spring closed stop valve in Said conduit means and an operating member attached thereto, said member comprising a handle, convolutions in said conduit means comprising a helical water cooling coil, a chamber cornpletely surrounding said water cooling coil and having all of its walls hollow, thermal insulating material completely filling all of said hollow walls, secondary liquid refrigerant in said chamber and covering said water cooling coil, a primary refrigerant conduit coil in said chamber helically intertwined with the first said coil, having an end in valve connection with a primary refrigerant supply source and another end arranged for conducting refrigerant away from said coil, the said valved connection comprising a stop valve having an orifice and a movable valve operating member, and linking means interconnecting the operating members of the two said valves for simultaneously spring returned manual opening thereof, whereby primary refrigerant flow is turned on in the refrigerant coil to effect secondary refrigerant cooling and water coil cooling, only upon water flow in the water coil resulting from fountain ilow induced by manual depression of the water valve handle.

2. I he device of claim l wherein the said linking means interconnecting the operating members of the two said valves comprises an actuating rod connected to said movable valve operating member of said primary refrigerant stop valve and link means pivotally affixed to the handle of the said water supply stop valve for cooperation with said rod.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein there is a thermostatically actuated primary refrigerant flow control valve having a temperature sensing control bulb connected thereto by a bulb condition transmitting member, said valve being connected in line with said stop valve, said bulb being disposed in said chamber, and wherein said secondary refrigerant liquid has a relatively low freezing point.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,423,337 Labus July 18, 1922 1,965,836 Heath July 10, 1934 2,078,026 Sandell Apr. 20, 1937 2,529,782 Morrison a Nov. 14, 1950 

